melanize

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

melanin + -ize

Verb

melanize (third-person singular simple present melanizes, present participle melanizing, simple past and past participle melanized)

  1. (transitive) To convert into melanin, or to deposit melanin in.
    • 1999 May 21, Jules A. Hoffmann et al., “Phylogenetic Perspectives in Innate Immunity”, in Science, volume 284, number 5418, →DOI, pages 1313–1318:
      At the extreme, the mosquito does not permit survival and transmission of the parasite: in genetically selected refractory mosquito strains, the parasites may be lysed as they traverse the midgut, or may be encapsulated and melanized at the early oocyst stage.

Derived terms

  • hypermelanize
  • hypomelanize
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